A few questions

[seamusgallen]

1. Some people have posted very detailed packing lists with weight of each item. My question is this: Does this list includes the clothes that you will wear on a typical day, in which case the pack weight is even less than the total posted.
2. Many people say "bring a hat". Why would I need a hat in April?
3. I want to do it like a pilgrim, but does that exclude the "private" albergues? Are they less authentic than the municipal or religious albergues?
4. Do I need to bring a sink/wash handbasin stopper?

Thanks very much. I hope these questions are not too stupid.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola Seamus - they aren't stupid at all.

1 clothes - the usual approach is one set to wear, one set washed and drying and one set spare. I only ever have a pair of shorts and long trousers.
2 hat - who can predict the weather. I'm currently walking to Rome from Florence, today it is bitterly cold and raining yesterday I had on sunscreen. Apart from walking in the height of summer I carry a beanie for cold mornings and evenings and a bandana which doubles as a neckerchief and head covering.
3 being a pilgrim - is dependent on what is in your heart not where you sleep. Public albergues, private albergues, hostales and hoteles - they are all ok and many pilgrims use all them in the course of their journey.
4 sink stopper - I carried a universal stopper for three years before realising I'd used it once and out it went!

Buen Camino

John

 

[Lmsundaze]

Hat -- Notwithstanding weather, I have a family history of melanoma and skin cancer and need protection from sun. IMHO everyone should protect themselves from the sun.

 

[Magwood]

My packing list excludes the clothes I am likely to be wearing. I use a spreadsheet with individual weights and it is a very useful tool. Even though I would now consider myself an 'experinced' pilgrim and know what weight range I am comfortable with carrying, I still weigh every item and make an attempt to pack light without agonising over it.

I always wear a visor with a sweat band which is excellent for keeping sun, hair and sweat out of my eyes and when it rains it keeps my raincoat hood from obscuring my view when turning my head.

Stay wherever you wish - I have always used albergues, private or municipal whenever possible. I think I would do this even if I could afford to use hotels. But it is an entirely personal decision. The only people who will make judgements are those with very little Camino experience. Old hands have learned not to judge.

A sink stopper is not important. I took a circle of rubber on my first Camino and never used it. I haven't bothered since and have not experienced a time when it was missed.
Buen camino!

 

[Bradypus]

I generally use one of my liner socks as a sink stopper when necessary. When wet it packs well into the drain and holds back enough water to wash everything else.

 

[Marc S.]

There's no such thing as a stupid question
A hat is essential for me, but that is because I have no hair and really need it for sun protection.
The sinkstopper...... my favorite item. Brought one for my first camino, did not use it, so did not take it for my second camino,
but then every time I really needed to do hand washing I found myself in a place with sinks but without sinkstops.
Since then I always carry a sinkstopper, but only use it occasionally.

I would not worry about doing it like a pilgrim. There is no such thing, imo. I guess that considering the pros and cons of taking a sinkstopper can be qualified as 'doing it like a pilgrim'.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I include the clothes I wear because in pack or not, they still constitute weight my body must carry so in the end I think it's important. What I think some forget is the water and food they are likely to carry. With each litre weighing a kg, that adds up pretty fast.

I carry a hat and sometimes two depending on where and when I'm going. With the head being a major loss of heat point, on the cold days going over the mountain passes you can lose unnecessary energy by having an unprotected head. In the rain, many prefer just the hoods on their jackets or ponchos but I prefer a rain hat so I can see and hear fully everything around me.

I agree with those above about lodging. I don't have definitive proof but imagine few Kings or Queens that journeyed to SDC to pay hommage to Santiago stayed in the stables

Good luck with all your decision and buen camino when the time comes!
Jordon

 

[norelle]

Yes - a hat will be needed in April! Some days to keep the warmth in and in others to keep the sun off.

I took a sink stopper on my first camino but it didn't stay with me for long and stayed behind to help the next pilgrim with their washing!! Now I use the sock idea!

buen camino

 

[marbuck]

You will need a hat. Remember, you are walking west into the sun.

 

[Kurt5280]

Good questions and these are my personal responses as follows:
1) For use at night I carried an extra pair of light rubber boat shoes and basically a jogging suit that I could also sleep in if I was cold...day clothes are completely separate and personal choice but are usually included in the total pack weight because technically you are carrying all of the clothes.
2) My experience was that a real hat blows away in the wind to often...I wore a light knit pull-on cap to keep my head warm in the mornings.
3) Some people will tell you that you need to stay in Albergues because of the Pilgrim commual experience...or you can make the personal choice to enjoy a private room with a long hot shower and an uninterrupted night sleep...or in some cases if you arrive at an Albergue ask for a "single room" with bathroom because many Albergues have private rooms at higher cost for married couples or Pilgrims that just like there sleep.
4) The only time I can think of needing a sink stopper was when I washed my clothes and I just used the clothes to stop the sink.

 

[Chacharm]

I have long hair. A cap keeps it out of my face. It also holds up the hood of my rain coat/poncho. It keeps my head warmer in cold weather and the sun out of my eyes.

 

[James R B]

I don't wear hats that much but I will on the Camino.I'm bald and a sunburn on the top of the head is not fun.

 

[Urban Trekker]

What you wear, what you take with you will really depend on the time of year you're walking and personal preferences. I try to keep my pack weight light but I know I'm over 10%. I'm not a bean counter, I don't own a Prius, and I don't nut up about it. I don't count the clothes I'm wearing and that includes my fleece and wind/rain breaker. I do wear a hat and carry a watch cap. The one keeps the sun off in my head in the summer and the other helps me retain body heat when it's cold. At the end of the day, I'm tireder all over than any place else so as long as there is a hot shower and a bed, I'm good. Never took or used a stopper. Buen Camino

Happy Trails